Just outside Coldspring,
Northern Province.
Finn sat on the edge of a giant boulder, his legs dangling over the side. Below him, the village stretched across the hilly terrain.
A cool morning breeze carried the distant sounds of life. But up here, it was quiet. He filled the time by carving a wooden miniature.
Hilda stood nearby. She ate the carrots that Finn just gave her.
Finn murmured under his breath as if speaking to his late father physically. “Hi dad. Things are getting better, you know.”
The carving in his hands was taking the shape of a horse. Its legs were stretched mid-gallop.
“There’s also this girl, Zoe…”
The knife paused mid-stroke. Why did I even bring her up?
Mimicking his father’s voice, he muttered, “Oh? So that’s why you’ve been smiling like an idiot lately, huh?”
Finn snorted. “Yeah, yeah. It’s not like that.”
Definitely not like that.
With a final, careful cut, he was done. Holding up the tiny wooden horse, he turned to Hilda. “What do you think, girl?”
Hilda snorted and stepped closer, pressing her nose against his shoulder. Then, with a soft nicker, she nudged him again—firm, but gentle.
Finn laughed. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He stretched his arms above his head, arching his back with a yawn as the crisp morning air nipped at his skin.
The sky was painted in soft hues of orange and lavender, the sun barely peeking over the hills. He took a deep breath, letting the cold fill his lungs.
"How’s it going in there, Dad? I hope you are finally reunited with your wife," His fingers traced the edge of the wooden horse sculpture.
“One day, I hope you can introduce me to her. I want to see how cool she’s after all your boasting.”
He laughed again, and a bit of tears left the corner of his eyes. "It’s weird, though. I thought I’d always carry this heavy feeling after your death, but... I don’t."
"Does that make me a bad son? Moving on? I should think about you all the time, right?"
As he imagined talking to his dad, a faint rustling came from behind, snapping him from his thoughts.
Finn turned just as Gunnar’s sister, Maryn, called out. "Finn! We’re done here. Let’s head back!"
A dry chuckle left his lips. That’s it for now Dad. Talk to you soon.
He shoved the horse figure into his pocket before turning toward her. "You sure? You don’t need anything else?"
He let out an exaggerated yawn. "Next time, wake me up even earlier. I love doing chores before dawn."
She giggled. "Hihi, sorry, Finn. Thanks again."
He swung onto Hilda’s back, offering a hand to Marin. She climbed up behind him, securing her grip as they started down the familiar path to the village.
"So," Maryn piped up behind him, "what’s your story with Zoe? You two seem closer lately."
Finn exhaled, watching his breath swirl in the air. "I dunno. What’s it to you?"
She stammered for a moment before coming up with an answer, “Hmmm. I know you have no one to share your story with. That’s why I’m here to help. Yes.”
“Why? Because my Dad’s dead? So I have no one else?”
She was shocked by his both his response and his flat delivery, “No, Finn, that’s not what I mean. I mean…”
He turned his head back and laughed as he looked at her, “Sorry sorry. I was joking. I mean, I wouldn't call it close to her.”
He went back to focusing on the road ahead, “Let’s see. How do I put it? She’s my distant relative, so naturally, I have to take care of her.”
“Ah come on, you still use that lame excuse?” Finn could almost guess the groaning expression she made in this instance.
“You wanna know the truth?” Finn teased her as they entered the village.
“Yes yes, tell me.” Her intonation changed, becoming more eager.
“Truth is, she’s my distant relative, so naturally, I have to take care of her.” Finn repeated almost the exact words, chuckling.
Maryn was silent for a moment.
"Ahhh, Finn likes a girl, but he’s too shy to admit!" She reached up, ruffling his hair. Her words were those of teasing jokes, but her intonation was more like an upset person.
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Finn ducked away, scowling. "Doesn’t it bother you that you keep treating me like a kid when you’re, like, half my size?"
Marin huffed. "Be respectful. I am older than you, still."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just hold on tight so you don’t fall. But be careful—you might end up falling for me instead."
Marin snorted. "Heh, as if."
They stopped in front of her lodge. His lodge opposite hers was no better since the last time he visited.
“Aaalright, here we are.”
Maryn jumped from Hilda and made her way into her lodge. She didn’t forget to pat Hilda’s cheeks as she passed by.
Yep, time for work now.
Chief Sigrid’s lodge
“Finn, over here,” Chief Sigrid called. “Bring some snacks out to the back.”
Finn stopped mid activity. Two cups of spiced chocolate and a plate of snacks—probably for Zoe and Urak.
“I’ll bring them over once I finish moving those boxes,” Finn said, already turning to leave.
“No. Now. Go.”
Seeing how persistent Sigrid was, Finn grabbed the tray loaded with hot chocolate and snacks.
The backyard looked different with new fences and a few desks lined up in front of a blackboard. Someone had been busy.
A familiar voice piqued his interest.
“No. I am. Bored of. Taking. Notes,” Zoe groaned.
She spoke much more fluently now. Not good, but much better.
“What are you talking about, you brat? You're dumb and you refuse to take notes,” Urak snapped back, clearly getting under Zoe’s skin.
Finn just stood there, watching them bicker.
“Oh yeah? I’m dumb? Then can you do this?” Zoe raised her hands. A translucent blue spinning ball shimmered into shape. “Come on, old man. Ditch the wand. Don’t be lazy—learn real magic.”
Finn had no idea how things escalated so fast. He cleared his throat, loud and deliberate.
Zoe stopped mid-argument.
“Finn! Look!” She ran up, grinning, holding out her hand to show him a tiny, translucent ball spinning gently in her palm.
Finn had no idea how things escalated so fast between the two. He cleared his throat, loud and deliberate.
Zoe stopped mid-argument.
“Finn! Look!” She ran up, grinning, holding out her hand to show him a tiny, translucent ball spinning gently in her palm.
“I’m confused.” Finn stepped closer. “Was that supposed to be impressive?”
Zoe frowned and let the spinning orb fade.
He walked to the nearest desk and set the tray down.
“’Bout time for breakfast,” Urak muttered, reaching for a cup—
“Urak!” The Chief called him over before he could take a sip.
His eyes twitched, then pointed at the thick book on the desk. “Finn, I hope this brat listens to you. Help her review this.”
He slapped the cover, loud and final, then left without waiting for an answer.
Zoe patted the seat next to her. “Finn. Sit. Drink this.”
He sat, dragging the heavy book along.
“So... how do we review this?” he asked.
Zoe grinned, chocolate smudging her lips. “Read. the book. for me. Please? I can't read yet. Hehe.”
“Sure.”
He cleared his throat, then read with a dull teacher voice just to annoy her.
“Chapter Three. The Eight Primary Affinities and Their Known Applications—”
Zoe groaned. “Voice. Less boring. Please.”
“Fine. You read, then.”
“I can’t. Yet. Told you.” She leaned closer, eyes wide with mock innocence. “Finn. Please.”
He rolled his eyes, but he didn’t mind.
He kept reading, with more enthusiasm this time.
“…Although healing spells are most often associated with Light, documented cases exist of Water, Nature, even Fire users producing regeneration effects under certain conditions—”
He paused. That last part… “Fire users can heal?”
“Duh.” Zoe tapped the page like she understood it. “It’s just harder, but possible, Finn.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
She shrugged, like it didn’t need to make sense.
“Must be nice. Being able to use magic.”
“What do you mean?” Zoe tilted her head.
“I mean…” Finn looked at his hands, “Nothing. Let’s just keep going.”
But she didn’t let go.
Instead, she held out her hand again. A pulsing blue sphere took form, and it turned into a flying butterfly.
She cupped it carefully, then offered it toward him.
He opened his hands and received it. His gaze was locked at the translucent, blue butterfly.
“Beautiful,” As he looked through, locking eyes with Zoe.
“No, I mean the Butterfly.” He quickly made a save.
“Yes. What else? Weird, Finn.”
Finn didn’t answer. He just stared back at the little thing.
He let it land on his finger. It popped a moment later.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to make fun of your spinning ball. You’re getting better at this, quickly.”
“It ok. Teach say. I am talented.” She looked smug saying it.
“Really? His standard is very low then.”
She elbowed him. “Jerk.”
Then she went quiet.
He glanced at her. Chocolate smudge on her cheek. Her hair was uncombed, feet swinging like she was still a kid.
But her eyes. Her eyes.
“Finn,” she said. “I miss. Home.”
“Well, if you’re really being honest about where you came from—what was it again?”
“Earth. Don’t forget. Again.”
“Yeah, Earth.” He scratched the back of his neck. “Haven’t found a single record of it. I’ll keep helping, but... this is all we’ve got right now. Just this place.”
He looked away, exhaling slowly. “But hey, you’ve got Chief Sigrid. You’ve got… me.”
“It’s ok, right?”
Zoe nodded, then held out the other chocolate, the one he hadn’t touched.
Urak returned. “Done flirting?”
Zoe stood, pointing a chocolate-stained finger. “Keep talking, Chief, and I’ll let my spells flirt with your face.”
Urak grunted. “You were all shy the first time you met me.” He slammed the book shut. “Review’s done. Combat drills. Now.”
As Finn turned to go, Zoe called after him.
“Finn stay?”
He shook his head. “I don’t do magic. I move boxes.”
Can’t say I’m a blacksmith either. Not right now.
Will Finn get back to becoming a blacksmith?
